Blank folding and gluing device



March 5,= 1963 Filed May 28, 1962 FIG.|

V. POLIDORI, JR

BLANK FOLDING AND GLUING DEVICE e sheets-sheet 1 INVEN TOR. @UM/f Je March 5, 1963 v. PoLlnoRl, JR

BLANK FOLDING AND GLUING DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1962 INVENTOR. V/A/rfA/i F0000 l/ J@ March 5, 1963 v. PoLmoRl, JR 3,079,847;

BLANK FOLDING AND GLUING DEVICE y med Nay 2s, 1962 Y e sheets-sheet s Bm/@WM March 5, 1963 v. PoLlDoRx, JR 3,079,847

BLANK FOLDING AND GLUING DEVICE Filed May 28, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 wmfww March 5, 1963 v. PoLlDoRl, JR 3,079,847

BLANK FOLDING AND GLUING DEVICE Filed May 28, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 'Mch 5,.'1963 v. PoLlDoRl, JR 3,079,847

BLANK FOLDING AND GLUING DEVICE:

Filed May 28, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 United States Patent Otlce l'l? Patented lidar. 5, i953 This invention relates to a machine for folding and gluing blanks traveling at high speeds to form envelopes.

ln the manufacture of envelopes, blanks are out from a continuous web of paper at extremely high speeds. Tnereafter, it is necessary to fold, apply glue to and seal the flaps of the blanks to form an envelope without interrupting the high speed ow of the blanks. Paper traveling at high `speeds will behave in a wide variety of ways as it passes through a machine, depending upon variations in thickness, composition, humidity, etc.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to form envelopes of blanks at speeds and with product dependability heretofore unknown.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine which is simple in structure and adapted to fit on the dispensing end of a Iblank cutting machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine 'which will operate accurately and without the need for adjustment for variations in paper conditions or characteristics.

An obiect of the present invention is to provide an envelope making machine which will lend itself to the manufacture of a large variety of envelope sizes.

A further obiect of the present invention is to provide an envelope making machine which will operate for long periods without requiring attention.

A feature of the present invention is its use of a series of rollers having suction gripping mears for handling the envelope blank in its passage through the machine.

Another feature of the present invention is its use of Arollers for folding the bottom flaps and seal flaps of the envelope blank in a continuous high speed operation.

Still another feature of the present invention is its use of rollers and suction means whereby the blank is always held in positive relationship as it passes through the machine.

The invention `consists of the construction, combination and arrangements of parts, as herein illustrated, described and claimed.

ln the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention, in which drawings similar reference characters designate c rrcsponding parts, and in which:

PlGUi-E l is a top plan view of a blank folding and gluing machine according to the present invention.

FEGURE 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 2-2 in FlGURE l.

FGURE 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic View of the drive mechanism of the machine shown in FGURES l and 2.

FlGURE. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the blank gluing and feeding rollers showing the beginning or the bottom flap folding operation.

FlGUlil 5 is a view similar to FGURE 4 showing the completion of the bottom iiap folding operation.

FlGURE 6 is a view similar to FGURES 4 and 5, showing the start of the seal flap folding operation.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FEGURE 6 showing the completion of the sealed flap folding operation.

FlGURE 8 is a view taken on line 8 8 in FIGURE l showing the suction valve ports in dashed lines.

9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 9--9 in FIGURE 8.

lCiG. i8 is a view similar to FlGURE 9, showing the roller with the vacuum port connected to atmospheric pressure.

FEGURE ll illustrates the steps in the folding and gluing of an envelope from an envelope blank.

HGURE l2 is a top plan view of the flap gluing pressure roller.

FIGURE i3 is a section taken on line ill-Z13 in FIG- URE l2.

Referring to the drawings and specifically to FIGURES l and 2, l5 indicates the dispensing end of an envelope blank cutting machine such as is well known in the art. The blank cutting machine also includes a section for applying glue to the seal flap of the envelope blank and dry ing it beforeit is fed out of the machine. A folding throat lo is secured at the dispensing end l5 of the blank cutting machine and serves to fold the side fiaps 17 of the blank i9 inwardly so as to overlie the body portion l of the blank as shown at folding in FIGURE ll.

A plurality of feed rollers 2li disposed beneath the table Z-l of the dispensing end of the blank cutting machine (best shown in FIGURE 2) together with pressure rollers 22 carried above the table 2l., serve to drive the envelope blanks 19 into the bite 23 of a pair of gripping rollers 2e, 25. The gripping rollers 2d, 25, seize the leading end of the bottom flap 26 of the envelope blank 19 as it leaves the dispensing end 15 of the blank cutting machine. The gripping rollers 24, 25, are secured to shafts 27, 2S, respectively. The shafts 27, 23, are in turn rotated by spur gears Z9, connected to a source of power (not shown).

The gripping rollers Z4, 25, drive the envelope blanks l? into a gluing station 2%. The gluing station 29 applies a metered amount of glue to the inclined surface of the side flap i7 along an area spaced from the slanted marin thereof. The glue applying operation is clearly shown in FlGURE ll at glue applied. Spaced glue applying rollers Sil within the gluing station 29 are provided with suitably shaped pads 31 to conform to the margins or the side `flaps 17. Glue is transferred to Ithe pads 31 from a reservoir 33, best shown in FIGURE 2, which may consist of a sponge or other glue retaining member 34. Glue transfer rollers 35, 36, serve to take a desired amount of glue from the sponge 34 and carry it to the pads 3l on the glue applying roller 3o. Since the pads 3l occupy only a portion of the periphery of the glue applying roller Si?, only the side flaps 17 requiring glue will be supplied with it during each rotation of the rollers 3Q. The remainder of the blank i9 will be driven through the gluing station 29 and into the iirst set of envelope folding rollers 35, 36.

A backup roller 32, best shown in FIGURES l2 and i3, is disposed beneath the glue applying roller -il, and supports the side flaps as the pads 29 are brought into contact with them. The backup roller 32 -is cut away as indicated `at fr-8.

The top first folding roller 35 is provided with a ported nozzle 37 disposed within a reduced portion 3S of the top roller 35. ri`he ported nozzle 37 is connected to a source of vacuum as indicated by the arrow 38 in FIG- UEE 8.

As the bottom lap Z6 is driven through the rollers 35, Se, the nozzle 37 is brought into contact with the bottom 25, and, as the roller 35 rotates, lifts the bottom flap 26 as shown in FIGURE 4. Flap stripping arms 49 are carried by the folding machine on each side of the nozzle 37 as slrown in FlGURES l, 2, 4 and 5. The bottom -iirst folding roller 36 is also provided with a port 3?, which is connected to a source of vacuum indicated by the arrow d in FEGURE 8. As the nozzle 37 raises the bottoni flap Z6 to the position shown in FIGURE 4, the port 39 grasps the body of the envelope lank i9 and carries it downwardly in the direction of the arrows shown in FiGURES 4 and 5, into the bite between the rollers 36 and 41. The suction of the vacuum 38 applied to the port 37 :is broken by the arms 4? shortly after the envelope Iblank is grasped by the port 39. The bottom ap will then swing into the position shown in dashed lines in FlGURE 4. As the blank 19 is carried down between the rollers 36, 41, the bottom ti-ap 26 will be folded back upon the side aps 17 in the manner shown at bottom ap fold and seal in FIGURE 1l, and the bottom flap 26 Will be glued to the side ap 17.

The roller 41 constitutes the top roller of la fsecond pair of folding rollers 41, 42. 'Fhe roller 41 is provided with a series of ports 43 which are internally threaded Ito receive plugs 50. In this manner any one or more of the ponts 43 can ybe brought into contact with the envelope blank 19 as they move pastthe bites of :the rollers 36, 41, to adapt .the machine to aV variety of envelope sizes. The

ports 43 are connected to a suitable source of vacuum so that the envelopeblank 19 is securely held bythe roller 41 as it is driven into fthe next folding operation. After the port 39 leaves the bite between the rollers, 36, 41, the vacuum source to the port 39 is cutoff and the envelope blank 19 is under theV positive control of theA roller41.

i The roller 41 carries the blank 19 between they rollers 41 Iand 42, as shown in FIGURE 6. The roller 42 is provided with a port 44, which is connected to a suitable source of Vacuum as shown in FIGURE 8. When the port 44 reaches the bite between the rollers 41, 42, the vacuum source to the ports 43 is cut off and the control of the envelope blank 19 is taken over by the port 44. It will be lseen from 1an examination of FIGURE 6 that the port 44 reaches the biteY of the rollers 41, 42, at a time when the trailing end of the envelope blank 1'9 is between the rollers 41, 42. The port 44 carries the trailing end of the lenvelope blank 19l downwardly and betweeny the rollers 42, 45, to perform the -final folding operation of doubling the top seal member 46 back upon the body portion 18 of the envelope blank 19. The roller 45 is provided with -a series of threaded ports 47 which vare connected to a ysuitable source of vacuum -as indicated at FIGURE 8. The ports 47 may be closed by plugs 50 to accommodate different envelope sizes. The ports 47 come into contact with the folded envelope blank 19 at the bite. between the rollers 42 and 45. Thereupon, the vacuum in porty 44 is cut off and the control of vthe envelope is taken over by the ports 47 which carry the envelope downwardly into some suitable receptacle (not shown). It will be noted that throughout the folding operation the envelope blank :at no time is free from positive control by one or more of the folding rollers. The envelope blank therefore is positively carried through the folding operation and must remain in position despite variations in thickness, nature of the paper, or such factors as humidity, temperature etc.

TheV envelope folding and gluing machine is capable of :adjustment to receive va -wire variety and number of envelope sizes. As shown in FIGURE l, the glue applying rollers 30 may be Worked laterally upon the shaft 51 by loosening screws 52 until the rollers 30 can slide on the :shaft 51. The shaft iscarried upon the supports 61 form'- iing the frame of the machine. The pads 31 can thus be Aaligned so as to bring them int'o registration with the side `flaps 17. The guide rollers 53 on each side of the glue .applying roller 30 can also be adjusted as required.

The manner in which the machine is driven from a l'power source (not shown) is best illustrated rin FIGURES 1 and 3. The rotary power supplied by a mot-or or a suitable power source is applied to a sha-ft S4 which is connected by Isuitable gearing to drive the feed rollers 20, the pressure rollers 22, and the glue applying roller 30. The glue applying roller gear 55 is shown in FIGURE 1 at the top thereof. The shaft 54 also delivers power through a gear train indi-cated at 55, 56 and 57, to the folding roller 42, the folding roller 45 and the folding roller `41. In this manner all of the operations of the machine are kept in synchronous relationship.

The manner in which the vacuum to the lports of the folding rollers is controlled is illustrated in FIGURE. 8 from which it will be seen that the hollow rollers are held against :the blocks 62 provided with 'arcuate recesses 5S at the ends thereof which communicate with openings 59 connected to a source of vacuum (not shown). 63 in the end of the rollers rotates past the recesses 5S. As the bores 63 turn past the recesses 58 they operate as valves and the vacuum is applied or cut off from the ports in the rollers. In laddition to cutting olf the vacuum the bores 63 are also brought into register with opening 64 (best shown in FIGURE l0) which passes through the block 62 and communicates With-atmospheric pressure to abruptly terminate the vacuum'within the rollers.

From the foregoing it will 'be seen .that there has been provided a highly eicient, versatile, simplified vmechanism for applyingv glue and folding envelope blanks to form complete envelopes. The device is easy to adjust and maintain in repair forl'o'ng periods of operation. The envelope blanks by reason ofthe simplicity of the folding structure are able to travel therethrough at extremely Ahigh speeds. Since the blank is Ialways under the control of lone or more suction ports as it traverses the machine it never moves out of the desired alignment and orientation.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new andrdesired to lbe secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. A machine for folding and gluing envelope blanks coming from a constant feed source having a throat for interfolding the side flaps of the envelope blank and delivering the blank-s with the bottom ap as the leading portion thereof comprising a support, spaced glue applying rollers carried by the support to receive the blank, backing rollers beneath the glue applying rollers, a iirst pair of folding rollers comprising a top roller and a bottom roller to receive the blank from the gluing rollers, a source of vacuum connected to lthe ltop roller, a port in said top roller in communication with the Vacuum source to grasp -the bottom flap, a source of vacuum connected to .the bot-tom roller, a port in said bottom roller in communication with the vacuum source, valve means to apply the vacuum in the bottom rol-ler tto the said port at a predetermined portion of the blank at a distance from the end thereof and while the bottom flap is still grasped by :the top roller port, a second pair of folding rollers 'adjacent the first folding rollers comprisn ing a second top roller and a second bottom roller, said second top roller being disposed with respect -to the rst bottom roller so as .to fold the lblank bottom. ilap therebetween as it is carried downwardly by the travel o-f the rst bottom roller, a source of vacuum connected to the second :top roller, at least one port in the second top roller connected to the vacuum source, valve means to apply the vacuum in the second top roller to the said port as the port reaches the bite between the first bottom roller and the second -top roller to lgrasp the folded portion of the blank and carry it between the second top roller and second bottom roller, a source oif vacuum connected to the second bottom roller, a port in said second bottom roller connected to the vacuum source, said port being disposed wi-thin the second bottom roller 'to engage the sealing flap of the envelope blank as it passes through the bite of the second pair of folding rollers, a third folding roller adjacent the second bot- -tom roller, a source of vacuum connected 4to the third roller, at least one port in the third roller connected to the vacuum source, valve means to continue the vacuum in the second bottom roller until i-t reaches the l,bite between the said second bottom roller and the third roller, valve means to apply the vacuum in the third roller to the port 'to grasp the envelope as it passes through the bite and is folded therein and means to drive the Abore Y gluing and folding lrollers and operate the valves to provide a continuous gluing and folding operation.

2. A machine for folding and gluing envelope blanks coming from a constant feed source having a throat for interfolding ythe side ilaps of the envelope blank and delivering the blanks with the bottom flap as the leading portion thereof comprising a support, spaced glue applying rollers carried by the support to receive the blank, glue dispensing pads on the said rollers, backing rollers beneath lthe glue applying rollers, a first pair of folding rollers comprising a `top roller and a bottom roller to receive the blank from the gluing rollers, a source of vacuum connected to the top roller, a port in said top roller in communication with the vacuum source to grasp the bottom ilap, a source of vacuum connected to the bottom roller, a port in said bottom roller in communication with the vacuum source, valve means to apply the vacuum in the bottom roller to the said port at a predetermined portion of the blank at a distance from the end thereof and while the bottom flap is still grasped by the top roller port, means to release the bottom flap from the top roller port, a second pair of folding rollers adjacent the rst folding roller-s comprising a second top roller and a second botto-m roller, said second top roller being disposed with respect to the irst bottom roller so as to fold the blank bottom flap `therebetween as it is carried downwardly by the travel of the rst bottom roller, a source of vacuum connected to the second top roller, at least one port in `the second top roller connected to the vacuum source, valve means to apply the vacuum in the second top roller to the said port as the port reaches the bite between ythe rirst bottom roller and the second top roller to grasp the folded portion of the blank and carry it between the second top roller and second bottom roller, a source of vacuum connected to the second bottom roller, a port in said second bottom roller connected to the vacuum source, said port being disposed within the second 'bottom roller to engage the sealing flap of the envelope blank as it passes through the bite of the second pair of folding rollers, a third folding roller adjacent the second bottom roller, a source of vacuum connected to the third roller, at least one port in the third roller co-nnected to the vacuum source, valve means to continue the vacuum in the second bottom roller until it reaches the bite between the said second bottom roller and lthe third roller, valve means to apply the vacuum in the -third roller to the port -to grasp the envelope as it passes through the bite and is folded therein and means to drive the gluing and folding rollers and operate the valves to provide a continuous gluing and folding operation.

3. A machine accord-ing to claim 2, in which the iirst top folding roller is provided with a nozzle carried within a recessed portion of the roller and the release means comprise at least one arm adjacent the nozzle.

4. A machine according to claim 1 lin which the valve means to control the vacuum to the rollers comprises a valve block secured to the support, a source of vacuum connected to the Valve block, an arcuate vacuum receiving recess in the valve block extending for a port-ion of the distance around the face thereof and a bore in each of the rollers adjacent the recesses to permit lthe roller to be evacuated therethrough.

5. A machine according to claim 2 in which the backing rollers are cut away along their outer -aces beneath the path of the -glue dispensing pads.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,580,441 Parks Apr. 13, 1926 1,713,243 Swab May 14, 1929 2,746,364 Welsh May 22, 1956 2,791,161 Doetsch May 7, 1957 

1. A MACHINE FOR FOLDING AND GLUING ENVELOPE BLANKS COMING FROM A CONSTANT FEED SOURCE HAVING A THROAT FOR INTERFOLDING THE SIDE FLAPS OF THE ENVELOPE BLANK AND DELIVERING THE BLANKS WITH THE BOTTOM FLAP AS THE LEADING PORTION THEREOF COMPRISING A SUPPORT, SPACED GLUE APPLYING ROLLERS CARRIED BY THE SUPPORT TO RECEIVE THE BLANK, BACKING ROLLERS BENEATH THE GLUE APPLYING ROLLERS, A FIRST PAIR OF FOLDING ROLLERS COMPRISING A TOP ROLLER AND A BOTTOM ROLLER TO RECEIVE THE BLANK FROM THE GLUING ROLLERS, A SOURCE OF VACUUM CONNECTED TO THE TOP ROLLER, A PORT IN SAID TOP ROLLER IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE VACUUM SOURCE TO GRASP THE BOTTOM FLAP, A SOURCE OF VACUUM CONNECTED TO THE BOTTOM ROLLER, A PORT IN SAID BOTTOM ROLLER IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE VACUUM SOURCE, VALVE MEANS TO APPLY THE VACUUM IN THE BOTTOM ROLLER TO THE SAID PORT AT A PREDETERMINED PORTION OF THE BLANK AT A DISTANCE FROM THE END THEREOF AND WHILE THE BOTTOM FLAP IS STILL GRASPED BY THE TOP ROLLER PORT, A SECOND PAIR OF FOLDING ROLLERS ADJACENT THE FIRST FOLDING ROLLERS COMPRISING A SECOND TOP ROLLER AND A SECOND BOTTOM ROLLER, SAID SECOND TOP ROLLER BEING DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO THE FIRST BOTTOM ROLLER SO AS TO FOLD THE BLANK BOTTOM FLAP THEREBETWEEN AS IT IS CARRIED DOWNWARDLY BY THE TRAVEL OF THE FIRST BOTTOM ROLLER, A SOURCE OF VACUUM CONNECTED TO THE SECOND TOP ROLLER, AT LEAST ONE PORT IN THE SECOND TOP ROLLER CONNECTED TO THE VACUUM SOURCE, VALVE MEANS TO APPLY THE VACUUM IN THE SECOND TOP ROLLER TO THE SAID PORT AS THE PORT REACHES THE BITE BETWEEN THE FIRST BOTTOM ROLLER AND THE SECOND TOP ROLLER TO GRASP THE FOLDED PORTION OF THE BLANK AND CARRY IT BETWEEN THE SECOND TOP ROLLER AND SECOND BOTTOM ROLLER, A SOURCE OF VACUUM CONNECTED TO THE SECOND BOTTOM ROLLER, A PORT IN SAID SECOND BOTTOM ROLLER CONNECTED TO THE VACUUM SOURCE, SAID PORT BEING DISPOSED WITHIN THE SECOND BOTTOM ROLLER TO ENGAGE THE SEALING FLAP OF THE ENVELOPE BLANK AS IT PASSES THROUGH THE BITE OF THE SECOND PAIR OF FOLDING ROLLERS, A THIRD FOLDING ROLLER ADJACENT THE SECOND BOTTOM ROLLER, A SOURCE OF VACUUM CONNECTED TO THE THIRD ROLLER, AT LEAST ONE PORT IN THE THIRD ROLLER CONNECTED TO THE VACUUM SOURCE, VALVE MEANS TO CONTINUE THE VACUUM IN THE SECOND BOTTOM ROLLER UNTIL IT REACHES THE BITE BETWEEN THE SAID SECOND BOTTOM ROLLER AND THE THIRD ROLLER, VALVE MEANS TO APPLY THE VACUUM IN THE THIRD ROLLER TO THE PORT TO GRASP THE ENVELOPE AS IT PASSES THROUGH THE BITE AND IS FOLDED THEREIN AND MEANS TO DRIVE THE GLUING AND FOLDING ROLLERS AND OPERATE THE VALVES TO PROVIDE A CONTINUOUS GLUING AND FOLDING OPERATION. 